Foundations
The Best Resume Format For 2026
Chronological, functional, or combination? Which format wins with both ATS and recruiters — and the exact section order to use this year.
Choosing the right resume format can significantly impact your ability to get interviews. There are three primary formats — and for most candidates in 2026, one of them is the clear winner.
The three formats
- 1
Chronological
Lists work history newest-first. Demonstrates progression, expected by most recruiters, parsed correctly by every ATS.
- 2
Functional
Leads with skills, hides dates. ATS systems and recruiters distrust it because it conceals gaps and timelines.
- 3
Combination
Hybrid — a strong skills block followed by chronological history. Useful for career changers with transferable skills.
Recommended section order
For most jobs in 2026, use this exact order. It mirrors how recruiters read top to bottom.
- Header (name, city/state, email, phone, LinkedIn)
- Professional Summary (2–3 lines)
- Core Skills (10–14 keywords in a clean block)
- Professional Experience (newest first, 3–5 bullets each)
- Education
- Certifications
- Technical Skills or Tools (if not already in Core Skills)
What to avoid
- Two-column layouts (the parser reads them in the wrong order)
- Tables and text boxes
- Decorative fonts and icons
- Headshots (illegal to consider in US hiring; some ATS strip them)
- Embedded graphs, charts, or progress bars for skills
When combination makes sense
If you are switching industries and your most relevant experience isn't your most recent, lead with a strong skills section that names the transferable capabilities, then list chronological history beneath.
Frequently asked
- Is a one-page resume still the rule?
- One page for under 10 years of experience; two pages above that. Three pages is rarely justified outside of academia, federal, or executive roles.
- PDF or DOCX?
- PDF unless the posting explicitly asks for DOCX. PDFs preserve formatting; modern ATS systems parse them reliably.
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